Light and electromagnetic therapies are emerging as potential medical treatments, though the role of quantum mechanics in their effects remains unclear. Clinical research suggests that exposure to light, electric fields, and magnetic fields could help treat conditions ranging from acne and hair loss to wounds and cancer. However, researchers debate whether these therapies rely on quantum effects or conventional chemistry.
Light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, originated in the late 19th century when physician Niels Ryberg Finsen used ultraviolet light beams to cure skin diseases—a breakthrough that won him a Nobel Prize in 1903. Today, weak laser light is becoming standard treatment for oral mucositis caused by some cancer treatments. However, LED devices based on light therapy have been relatively easy to approve by the FDA, sometimes lending credibility to unproven treatments.
Quantum biology—the study of quantum effects in living systems—exists on multiple levels. At the most fundamental, quantum mechanics explains how atoms link into molecules. At more sophisticated levels are phenomena like superposition and entanglement. Researcher Clarice Aiello at the Quantum Biology Institute noted that whether quantum states can persist long enough in living cells to matter remains unproven.
Beyond light, researchers are developing magnetic and electric field therapies. A device called Optune is approved in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan to treat specific brain and lung cancers with alternating electric fields, supported by clinical trials. Some researchers suggest magnetic therapies might exploit quantum mechanisms involving electron spins, similar to how birds potentially navigate using Earth’s magnetic field.
Scientist Philip Kurian recently published evidence suggesting quantum entanglement in tryptophan networks on microtubules. He hypothesizes this “superradiance” could protect cells by efficiently absorbing ultraviolet light, and speculates the mechanism might relate to Alzheimer’s disease pathology. However, other researchers remain skeptical that higher-level quantum effects play meaningful biological roles.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2525755-can-we-harness-quantum-effects-to-create-a-new-kind-of-healthcare/